Saturday, May 19, 2012
   
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Hi, I'm Nancy Driscoll

I fell in love with the game of bridge over 40 years ago.  I am a Silver Life Master and have accumulated over 1800 masterpoints competing in club games and tournaments. I have played in ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) bridge tournaments all over the United States and Canada.

For the past 35 years or so, I have been an ACBL-accredited game director and have directed countless games of duplicate bridge in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Santa Cruz and Monterey.

I have been an ACBL-accredited bridge instructor for over 24 years, and have taught hundreds of students at all skill levels. I have served as the Northwest representative of the ABTA (American Bridge Teachers Association) and have travelled extensively promoting excellence in bridge instruction.

While living in Spokane, I designed and built the Sixth Avenue Bridge Center, where I taught players at all levels, directed duplicate games and supervised rubber bridge games.

I am passionate about the game of bridge and love to share my passion with newer players. I strongly believe that bridge can be learned by anyone who is looking for fun, a mental challenge, and a lifelong goal.  My method of teaching is simple: oral presentation of basic bridge concepts at the white board, using lots of examples and humor, followed by practice hands set up to demonstrate the lesson.  I use nationally-known bridge texts to supplement each lesson, so that the students can reinforce the lessons I present in class by reading and reviewing at home.

In my opinion, there are no stupid bridge questions.  I answer all questions immediately, either in class or via e-mail and am always available to my students to discuss bridge. Individual attention is my specialty. Personal encouragement is my promise to you.

The bridge program at NANCY'S BRIDGE HOUSE offers a full range of instruction by ACBL-accredited bridge teachers, for everybody from brand new beginners to rubber bridge players to duplicate bridge players to aspiring tournament players.  Classes are offered year-round. 

Many of my students have gone on to pursue very successful bridge careers, whether playing with friends at home or competitors at the bridge club.  If you would like to learn the world's most popular card game, or to improve your bridge skills, give me a call or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Let's get started!

 

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FACULTY

MARY PETERSON is my teaching colleague at Nancy's Bridge House.  She is the instructor for the BIDDING and CONVENTIONS classes, and alternates between DEFENSE and PLAY OF THE HAND each session.

Mary is married to John, a retired attorney and aspiring bridge player. They have four adult children and two grandchildren.  She has lived most of her life in Fresno and moved to Santa Cruz about 7 years ago to garden, walk the beach and play bridge.

During her Fresno years, Mary taught, tutored and trained a variety of skills, from remedial reading to Red Cross swimming.  She is a certified probate paralegal and has had extensive experience in community service and volunteer activities. 

In addition to teaching classes and handling hospitality and gardening at NANCY'S BRIDGE HOUSE, Mary manages a lot of the behind-the-scenes business of NBH.  Her biggest challenge is to try to keep me organized!

While planning for retirement, Mary took her first bridge lessons and has been playing regularly ever since.  She is a Life Master and an ACBL-accredited bridge instructor and is uniquely qualified to work with beginning bridge players because she was a beginner herself not so long ago. . .

 


 


 

  
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Nancy's Notes

SPRING has sprung at Nancy's Bridge House!  Mary and I are delighted with the number of new students and returning students who have joined the Nancy's Bridge House family in 2012.  Our classes (CONVENTIONS and INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOPS) are thriving and our Monday Night 99'er Game grown to more than 10 tables.  In case you haven't heard, we have expanded our Spring game schedule to include some Wednesday nights, Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons. You are cordially invited to come play in any of our 99'er or NLM games. 
 
THURSDAY WORKSHOPS FOR INTERMEDIATES 
My WORKSHOPS FOR INTERMEDIATES are attracting more students all the time who want to learn more advanced bridge concepts and techniques.  This class meets on most Thursdays from 10 a.m. - noon. See "WORKSHOPS" page for specific dates and topics.  The class fee is $10; reservations not required.

CONVENTIONS CLASS (Beginners/Brush-Up)
Mary is now offering an 8-week beginner bridge course called  CONVENTIONS.   This class meets on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon  See "CONVENTIONS" page for specific dates and topics.  The class fee is $10; reservations not required.

One of the unique features of the NBH curriculum is that it is made up of four separate beginner courses: BIDDING, CONVENTIONS, PLAY OF THE HAND and DEFENSE.  Each course follows in order, giving the beginning student the assurance that there will be 32 weeks of instruction covering nearly a full year.  For continuing students, the certainty of the NBH schedule offers the opportunity to re-take those lessons/classes that may need a little more attention.

MONDAY NIGHT 99'ER GAME
I direct an ACBL-sanctioned 99'ers DUPLICATE GAME most Monday nights for players with fewer than 100 masterpoints.  The game is held in the Main Building of the Live Oak Senior Center. You are welcome to bring your questions at 6 p.m. for a brief Q & A session, followed by the game.  The game starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. and usually wraps up by 9 p.m.   This game is especially for players who want to hone their newly-acquired bridge skills in a friendly, fun atmosphere at an easy pace.  The table fee is $7, which includes light refreshments and Bridge Mates.  No sign-up is required.  Bring your favorite partner  and have a fun "night out". . See "GAMES" page for specific dates.